Bush Touts U.S. Role in Shaping World

WILL LESTER

Published 8:00 pm, Friday, July 4, 2003

Associated Press Writer

Those serving in the U.S. military and their families sacrifice a great deal to help their country, but millions of people around the world depend on the efforts of American forces, President Bush says.

"Without America's active involvement in the world, the ambitions of tyrants would go unopposed and millions would live at the mercy of terrorists," Bush said in his weekly radio address Saturday. He said because of U.S. policies around the world "tyrants have learned to fear, and terrorists are on the run."

Echoing themes from his Independence Day remarks at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, the president said the world should be grateful for the efforts of this country's military.

"Millions across the world today are free because of the unselfish courage of America's veterans," he said.

Bush recounted the accomplishment of U.S. troops over more than two centuries. "They have left many monuments along the way _ an undivided union, a liberated Europe, the rise of democracy in Asia and the fall of an evil empire," he said.

The president said that "on this Fourth of July weekend, we also remember the brave Americans we've lost in Afghanistan and Iraq," adding that "we honor each one for their courage and their sacrifice."

The president made clear in his Ohio remarks Friday that, inspired by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, he plans to keep up an aggressive approach to countries and leaders who threaten the United States.

"By killing innocent Americans, our enemies made their intentions clear to us," he said. "And since that September day, we have made our own intentions clear to them."

The United States "will not stand by and wait for another attack, or trust in the restraint and good intentions of evil men," he declared.

On Saturday, he again recalled the lasting power of the ideals of those who founded this country.

"The ideals of July 4th, 1776, still speak to all humanity, and the revolution declared that day goes on," he said in the radio address.

In the Democrats' weekly radio address, Texas Rep. Ciro Rodriguez called for improving the support the government provides to military veterans and their families.

House Democrats have introduced a plan providing crucial benefits for retired and disabled veterans, improving health care and providing chances for a better education to military reservists, he said.

"The House Democratic plan seeks new standards of care and sets enforceable guidelines to make certain that disability claims are processed in a timely manner," Rodriguez said. It also would eliminate proposed increases in co-payments and enrollment fees, he said.

"Providing affordable and accessible health care to our veterans," he said, "is a responsibility that we simply cannot abandon."